2019–20 St. Louis Blues season

The 2019–20 St. Louis Blues season was the 53rd season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967.[2] The Blues entered the season as the defending Stanley Cup champions for the first time in franchise history.

2019–20 St. Louis Blues
Central Division champions
Division1st Central
Conference1st Western
2019–20 record42–19–10
Home record23–7–5
Road record19–12–5
Goals for225
Goals against193
Team information
General managerDoug Armstrong
CoachCraig Berube
CaptainAlex Pietrangelo
Alternate captainsRyan O'Reilly (Nov.–Aug.)
Alexander Steen
Vladimir Tarasenko
ArenaEnterprise Center
Average attendance18,096[1]
Minor league affiliate(s)San Antonio Rampage (AHL)
Tulsa Oilers (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsDavid Perron
Brayden Schenn (25)
AssistsRyan O'Reilly (49)
PointsRyan O'Reilly (61)
Penalty minutesDavid Perron (52)
Plus/minusVince Dunn (+15)
WinsJordan Binnington (30)
Goals against averageJake Allen (2.15)

The season was suspended by the league officials on March 12, 2020, after several other professional and collegiate sports organizations followed suit as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4] On May 26, the NHL regular season was officially declared over, with the remaining games being cancelled.[5] The Blues advanced to the playoffs and played to play in a round-robin tournament, to determine the team's seed for the playoffs. The Blues faced the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, but were defeated in six games.[6]

Off-season

On June 24, 2019, head coach Craig Berube signed a three-year contract with the Blues. Berube had been the interim head coach since November 2018 and helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup in the previous season.[7]

Standings

Divisional standings

Central Division
PosTeamGPWLOTLRWGFGAGDPts
1St. Louis Blues7142191033225193+3294
2Colorado Avalanche704220837237191+4692
3Dallas Stars693724826180177+382
4Winnipeg Jets713728630216203+1380
5Nashville Predators693526828215217−278
6Minnesota Wild693527730220220077
7Chicago Blackhawks703230823212218−672
Source: National Hockey League[8]

Western Conference

PosTeamGPWLOTLRWGFGAGDPCTQualification
1St. Louis Blues7142191033225193+32.662Advance to Seeding round-robin tournament[9]
2Colorado Avalanche704220837237191+46.657
3Vegas Golden Knights713924830227211+16.606
4Dallas Stars693724826180177+3.594
5Edmonton Oilers713725931225217+8.585Advance to 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs qualifying round[9]
6Nashville Predators693526828215217−2.565
7Vancouver Canucks693627627228217+11.565
8Calgary Flames703627725210215−5.564
9Winnipeg Jets713728630216203+13.563
10Minnesota Wild6935277302202200.558
11Arizona Coyotes703329826195187+8.529
12Chicago Blackhawks703230823212218−6.514
13Anaheim Ducks712933920187226−39.472
14Los Angeles Kings702935621178212−34.457
15San Jose Sharks702936522182226−44.450
Source: National Hockey League[10]
Tiebreaking procedures
  1. Fewer number of games played (only used during regular season).
  2. Greater number of regulation wins (denoted by RW).
  3. Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime (excluding shootout wins; denoted by ROW).
  4. Greater number of total wins (including shootouts).
  5. Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded.
  6. Greater goal differential (difference between goals for and goals against).
  7. Greater number of goals scored (denoted by GF).

Schedule and results

Preseason

The preseason schedule was published on June 18, 2019.[11]

Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on June 25, 2019.[19]

2019–20 game log

Legend:  Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

The Blues played in a round-robin tournament to determine their seed for the playoffs. St. Louis finished with a 0–2–1 record to secure the fourth seed for the playoffs.[92]

The Blues faced the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, and were eliminated in six games.[93]

2020 Stanley Cup playoffs

Legend:  Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Player statistics

Skaters

Goaltenders

Regular season[105]
PlayerGPGSTOIWLOTGAGAASASV%SOGAPIM
Jordan Binnington50502,947:41301371262.561,430.9123014
Jake Allen24211,339:041263482.15655.9272000
Playoffs[106]
PlayerGPGSTOIWLOTGAGAASASV%SOGAPIM
Jake Allen54285:4121191.89138.9350002
Jordan Binnington55266:47050214.72141.8510000

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Blues. Stats reflect time with the Blues only.
Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Blues only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.


Transactions

The Blues have been involved in the following transactions during the 2019–20 season.

Trades

DateDetailsRef
July 12, 2019 (2019-07-12)To Toronto Maple Leafs
Future considerations
To St. Louis Blues
Dakota Joshua
[107]
July 25, 2019 (2019-07-25)To Toronto Maple Leafs
Jordan Schmaltz
To St. Louis Blues
Andreas Borgman
[108]
September 24, 2019 (2019-09-24)To Carolina Hurricanes
Dominik Bokk
Joel Edmundson
7th-round pick in 2021
To St. Louis Blues
Justin Faulk
5th-round pick in 2020
[109]
November 6, 2019 (2019-11-06)To Detroit Red Wings
Robby Fabbri
To St. Louis Blues
Jacob de la Rose
[110]
February 18, 2020 (2020-02-18)To Montreal Canadiens
2nd-round pick in 2020
Conditional 4th-round pick in 2021
To St. Louis Blues
Marco Scandella
[111]

Free agents

DatePlayerTeamContract termRef
July 1, 2019 (2019-07-01)Jake Dotchinfrom Anaheim Ducks1-year[112]
July 1, 2019 (2019-07-01)Nick Lappinfrom New Jersey Devils1-year[112]
July 1, 2019 (2019-07-01)Evan Poleifrom Bakersfield Condors (AHL)2-year[112][113]
July 1, 2019 (2019-07-01)Derrick Pouliotfrom Vancouver Canucks1-year[112]
July 1, 2019 (2019-07-01)Mike Vecchionefrom Philadelphia Flyers1-year[112]
July 1, 2019 (2019-07-01)Nathan Walkerfrom Washington Capitals1-year[112]
July 1, 2019 (2019-07-01)Tyler Wotherspoonto Philadelphia Flyers2-year[114]
July 1, 2019 (2019-07-01)Jani Hakanpaato Anaheim Ducks1-year[115]
July 10, 2019 (2019-07-10)Jared Coreauto New York Islanders1-year[116]
July 16, 2019 (2019-07-16)Michael Del Zottoto Anaheim Ducks1-year[117]
August 24, 2019 (2019-08-24)Patrick Maroonto Tampa Bay Lightning1-year[118]
September 3, 2019 (2019-09-03)Conner Bleackleyto Idaho Steelheads (ECHL)1-year[119]
November 20, 2019 (2019-11-20)Troy Brouwerfrom Florida Panthers1-year[120]

Waivers

DatePlayerTeamRef
July 1, 2019 (2019-07-01)from/to

Retirement

DatePlayerRef
July 3, 2019 (2019-07-03)Chris Butler[122]
October 13, 2019 (2019-10-13)Chris Thorburn[123]

Signings

DatePlayerContract termRef
June 23, 2019 (2019-06-23)Jordan Nolan1-year[124]
June 23, 2019 (2019-06-23)Nolan Stevens1-year[125]
June 27, 2019 (2019-06-27)Carl Gunnarsson2-year[126]
July 1, 2019 (2019-07-01)Samuel Blais1-year[127]
July 8, 2019 (2019-07-08)Zach Sanford2-year[128]
July 12, 2019 (2019-07-12)Robby Fabbri1-year[129]
July 12, 2019 (2019-07-12)Dakota Joshua2-year[107]
July 12, 2019 (2019-07-12)Mitch Reinke1-year[citation needed]
July 13, 2019 (2019-07-13)Jordan Binnington2-year[130]
July 20, 2019 (2019-07-20)Ville Husso1-year[131]
July 21, 2019 (2019-07-21)Oskar Sundqvist4-year[132]
August 1, 2019 (2019-08-01)Nikita Alexandrov3-year[133]
August 6, 2019 (2019-08-06)Joel Edmundson1-year[134]
September 1, 2019 (2019-09-01)Ivan Barbashev2-year[135]
September 24, 2019 (2019-09-24)Justin Faulk7-year[109]
October 4, 2019 (2019-10-04)Brayden Schenn8-year[136]
October 17, 2019 (2019-10-17)Mathis Laferriere3-year[137]

Draft picks

Below are the St. Louis Blues' selections at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 21 and 22, 2019, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Round#PlayerPosNationalityCollege/Junior/Club team (League)
262Nikita AlexandrovC  RussiaCharlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
393Colten EllisG  CanadaRimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
5155Keean WashkurakC  CanadaMississauga Steelheads (OHL)
72081Vadim ZherenkoG  RussiaMHC Dynamo Moscow (MHL)
7217Jeremy MichelLW  CanadaVal-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)

Notes:

  1. The Toronto Maple Leafs' seventh-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 22, 2019, that sent a seventh-round pick in 2020 to Toronto in exchange for this pick.[138]

References